Super Eagles Too Slow, Predictable

Chelsea FC chief scout, Michael Emenalo, has suggested that the Super Eagles lost to Egypt because they were too slow and predictable in their build-up.

Emenalo, whose job involves scouting opponents for the Chelsea coaching staff, watched the team he represented as a defender at the 1994 World Cup lose to Egypt and offered his thoughts to Tidesports source on the positives and negatives from the game.

“Tactically, I love the way they started,” the former Nigeria left back began. “They looked organised and good in midfield and they kept possession very well.

“I also liked the idea of Uche on the left side, but coming in to fortify the midfield and I liked the width in transition offered by Obasi.”

However, that is as good as it got, as Emenalo proceeded to pick out the holes that the Egyptians exploited in the latter stages of the half, and for the rest of the game.

“I didn’t like the way Uche didnt track back and didn’t support Yakubu. There was no width in transition like with Obasi.

“As a team, there were no clear ideas on transition. Everything looked pedestrian. The build-up from the back and from midfield looked slow, and the only real transition was Mikel switching Obasi to get in behind the defence.

“Our movement off the ball was not quick enough and it was predictable.

“Egypt moved the ball faster and always looked for the forward pass, with positive haste.”

If the midfield took knocks, Emenalo still had more to spare for the defence.

“I can’t question the tactics as I am not there and I don’t know what the coach’s instructions were. But there was a lack of defensive solidity.

“From a scouting point of view, the back four were constantly on a jagged edge all over the place and that allowed the opposition for through balls, especially through Taiwo.”

Overall, the verdict was damning.

“We didn’t have any kind of balance or organisation. One of the basics in football is that if you are attacking from one flank, you keep a balance centrally and on the opposite flank. They didn’t have that.

“We just lacked purpose with the use of the ball and the maturity. They were keeping possession, but did not seem to have a purpose for the possession.”

And Emenalo had one final, not so flattering thought for the Eagles.

“One other thing that has been our bane in Nigeria, and maybe most of Africa, is a lack of emotional commitment. Players have to understand what the game means. You can’t take your eyes off it.

“In those 90 minutes, you have to be fully concentrated on the game. The Egyptians understood that, but our players did not.

“There is an example of that when Enyeama had the ball and was looking to release it quickly. An Egyptian player ran in front of him to stop him from starting the counter attack until his team mates had regrouped. That shows that Egypt understood what was at stake.

“You don’t stand when the opposition is in possession. Egypt were constantly in motion.”